Oh no! Another alien probe

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Is there a standard model for interstellar objects?

No, but the length to width ratio of this object is not only the greatest we’ve ever seen, it is >3 Times greater than the next highest ratio we’ve seen.   So it seems reasonable to say it’s shape requires a formation circumstances we haven’t seen before.

So, out of the many, many interstellar objects we've seen since 4004 BC, this one is anomalous.

[Anomalocaris]

No, but the length to width ratio of this object is not only the greatest we’ve ever seen, it is >3 Times greater than the next highest ratio we’ve seen.   So it seems reasonable to say it’s shape requires a formation circumstances we haven’t seen before.

So, out of the many, many interstellar objects we've seen since 4004 BC, this one is anomalous.

We believe interstellar objects of this size mostly if not entirely originated as circumstellar objects. The process that form young stars also create the only environment we know of that takes extremely diffuse interstellar dust, concentrate them, and keep them concentrated without absorbing them for long enough until there is time for sizeable objects to form. We’ve certainly seen very sizeable collection of circumstellar objects around our sun that formed this way. We would expect most of the interstellar objects to resemble the more numerous types of circumstellar objects found in our solar system. The surface characteristics of object is reassuringly similar to Kuiper Belt Objects in our solar system. But it’s shape is highly unusual.

There are 3 possibilities:

1. Our theories are correct but the shape of this object is truly freakish and simply represent an statistical extreme so far from the norm in both our solar system and interstellar space that we simply have not chance upon something like itbefore.

2. We are wrong and sizeable portions of interstellar objects formed in environments substantially different from comditions around the sun when the sun’s retinue of circumsolar Objects form.

3. Our theories are correct about how most interstellar objects form, but we have not considered conditions in interstellar space that can modify normal circumstellar objects into this unusual shape.

[vorlon13]

I've got your alien probe right here . . .

[Minimalist]

And yet the Europeans did it with that comet.  Ever notice that while we talk about how great we are other nations are actually doing things instead of just running their mouths.

We should really correct that.

The ESA knew when that comet would be here.

And yet they got it done.

What were we doing?  Starting stupid wars and cutting taxes on the rich?

[Gawdzilla Sama]

So, out of the many, many interstellar objects we've seen since 4004 BC, this one is anomalous.

We believe interstellar objects of this size mostly if not entirely originated as circumstellar objects.  The process that form young stars also create the only environment we know of that takes extremely diffuse interstellar dust, concentrate them, and keep them concentrated without absorbing them for long enough until there is time for sizeable objects to form.    We’ve certainly seen very sizeable collection of circumstellar objects around our sun that formed this way.  We would expect most of the interstellar objects to resemble the more numerous types of circumstellar objects found in our solar system.   The surface characteristics of object is reassuringly similar to Kuiper Belt Objects in our solar system.  But it’s shape is highly unusual.

There are 3 possibilities:  

1. Our theories are correct but the shape of this object is truly freakish and simply represent an statistical extreme so far from the norm in both our solar system and interstellar space that we simply have not chance upon something like itbefore.

2.  We are wrong and sizeable portions of interstellar objects formed in environments substantially different from comditions around the sun when the sun’s retinue of circumsolar Objects form.

3.  Our theories are correct about how most interstellar objects form, but we have not considered conditions in interstellar space that can modify normal circumstellar objects into this unusual shape.

People tell me they could only form around stars. But how did stars form? Accretion on a stellar scale. But not all accretion results in stars. The sub-stellar masses could run out of material to collect before reach the critical size. And those cold protostars will, on occasion, collide.  We don't know which has the numbers, the successful stars or the also-rans. In places like the Pillars of Creation the smaller bodies could be incredibly numerous but not big enough to light up.

[Jehanne]

It is strange that such an object could have ended-up on a hyperbolic orbit that intersected the Sun's orbit about the Galaxy.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

It is strange that such an object could have ended-up on a hyperbolic orbit that intersected the Sun's orbit about the Galaxy.

Why?

[Jehanne]

It is strange that such an object could have ended-up on a hyperbolic orbit that intersected the Sun's orbit about the Galaxy.

Why?

If it formed around its parent star, then it was in an elliptical orbit to begin with.  To go from an elliptical orbit (E < 0, negative energy, where K < U, "kinetic energy is less than potential") to a hyperbolic orbit (E > 0, where K > U) would require some interaction within its home system.  And, then, it would need to be expelled in such a way as to intersect our Sun in its galactic orbit around the Milky Way at around 250 km/s.  Given the "local frame of rest", it seems unusual that any natural object could gain enough energy to, 1) escape its parent star, and 2) to have an intersecting orbit with a neighboring stellar system.

But, "extraordinary claims demand extraordinary evidence" (unless, of course, one is a Christian or Muslim).

P.S. Local standard of rest:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Local_standard_of_rest

[Fireball]

Why?

If it formed around its parent star, then it was in an elliptical orbit to begin with.  To go from an elliptical orbit (E < 0, negative energy, where K < U, "kinetic energy is less than potential") to a hyperbolic orbit (E > 0, where K > U) would require some interaction within its home system.  And, then, it would need to be expelled in such a way as to intersect our Sun in its galactic orbit around the Milky Way at around 250 km/s.  Given the "local frame of rest", it seems unusual that any natural object could gain enough energy to, 1) escape its parent star, and 2) to have an intersecting orbit with a neighboring stellar system.

But, "extraordinary claims demand extraordinary evidence" (unless, of course, one is a Christian or Muslim).

P.S.  Local standard of rest:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Local_standard_of_rest

Something flying into our solar system and back out doesn't surprise me at all, given the size of the universe. In fact, it has been posited that entire planets are potentially roaming space without a star to orbit. Given the fact that we almost missed it, I bet there's other shit flying around that never made it into inside the Mars orbit that we've never seen. That, or little green men (or giant red women- needn't be sexist, after all) could have welded some structure together just to mystify us all.

[Anomalocaris]

Why?

If it formed around its parent star, then it was in an elliptical orbit to begin with.  To go from an elliptical orbit (E < 0, negative energy, where K < U, "kinetic energy is less than potential") to a hyperbolic orbit (E > 0, where K > U) would require some interaction within its home system.  And, then, it would need to be expelled in such a way as to intersect our Sun in its galactic orbit around the Milky Way at around 250 km/s.  Given the "local frame of rest", it seems unusual that any natural object could gain enough energy to, 1) escape its parent star, and 2) to have an intersecting orbit with a neighboring stellar system.

But, "extraordinary claims demand extraordinary evidence" (unless, of course, one is a Christian or Muslim).

P.S.  Local standard of rest:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Local_standard_of_rest

1. Local standard of rest only broadly describe only the motion of local stars that formed from the ambient gas and dust that already orbit normally in the main disk plane of the spiral arms, and which since their formation have not undergone close gravitational interactions with other nearby stars.

2. Even normal local stars can acquire appreciable atypical motion components if it had undergone close gravitational interaction with other stars

3. Even in the local region there are stars that orbit in retrograde motion around the Milky Way compared to the sun, in addition to have high outbid plane component to their motions. These stars would have very high relative velocities with respect to the sun, and any escapee from these star systems can intercept our solar system at high relative velocities. These stars probably came from globular clusters or captured and disrupted satellite galaxies.